Two Decades On: The Chilling 'Honour Killing' of Banaz Mahmod and Systemic Failures
It has been twenty years since the brutal murder of Banaz Mahmod, a case that shocked the nation and exposed profound failures in how authorities handle so-called 'honour' based violence. The 20-year-old was subjected to horrific torture and rape in her parents' South London living room before being strangled and her body disposed of in a suitcase, all orchestrated by her own family members.
A Life of Abuse and Defiance
Banaz Mahmod's story is one of systematic abuse that began long before her murder. Having moved to England from Iraq with her family at age ten, Banaz and her four sisters endured escalating violence after settling in Mitcham, South London. At just seventeen, she was forced into an arranged marriage with a man a decade her senior, suffering incessant rape and beatings before finding the courage to leave.
Her defiant act of leaving an abusive marriage was seen by her family as bringing shame upon them, setting in motion the tragic events that would follow. Banaz subsequently fell in love with Rahmat Sulemani, a man of her own choosing, but lived in perpetual fear that her family wanted her dead for this perceived dishonour.
Multiple Police Failures
What makes Banaz's case particularly distressing is the multiple opportunities for intervention that were missed. Banaz reached out to police on five separate occasions, explicitly expressing fears that her family intended to kill her. All these pleas were ignored, with authorities failing to understand the cultural context and gravity of the threats she faced.
Expert hypnotherapist and psychologist Phil Macleod, founder of Thought Reader, explained the systemic failures: "This is a complicated case and the overall trend is that she was let down by society and the police, who failed to investigate, and therefore she was ultimately killed." He added that police today would implement different safeguards having learned from such tragedies.
The Horrific Murder and Aftermath
On the morning of 24 January 2006, Banaz's worst fears materialised. Her father Mahmod Babakir Mahmod and uncle Ari Agha Mahmod plotted her murder, hiring Mohamad Hama to execute the killing. Banaz endured two-and-a-half hours of torment in her own home, including sexual violence, before being strangled with a bootlace.
Hama later bragged about violating his victim and described stamping on her neck to "get her soul out." Her body was then stuffed into a suitcase by Hama and her cousins Mohammed Saleh Ali and Omar Hussain, transported to Birmingham, and buried in a pit where it remained undiscovered for three months.
Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Goode, who worked on the case, noted its unusual nature: "Normally when you investigate a murder you are trying to get justice for the family. But in this instance, the family weren't interested in getting justice as they were the ones who ordered her killing."
Justice and Ongoing Campaigns
The subsequent investigation and trial resulted in multiple convictions:
- Her father received a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years
- Her uncle was given life with a minimum of 23 years
- Mohamad Hama confessed and received a minimum 17-year sentence
- Her cousins Omar Hussain and Mohamad Saleh Ali were extradited from Iraq and sentenced to minimum terms of 22 and 21 years respectively
Banaz's sister Bekhal, who testified at the trial and now lives under a new identity, supports proposed 'Banaz's Law' which would recognise 'honour' abuse as a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing. Refuting the term 'honour killing,' Bekhal stated: "It should be called the devil's work. Honour has nothing to do with it at all. It's dishonour. Disloyalty."
Enduring Trauma and Psychological Impact
The trauma of Banaz's murder continues to affect those left behind. Her boyfriend Rahmat Sulemani, who reported her missing and was paralysed with fear during her disappearance, tragically died by suicide ten years after her death.
Bekhal Mahmod continues to suffer psychological effects, with Macleod noting she appears to have PTSD where "the tiniest thing can trigger her fears and she goes into fight or flight mode." Bekhal told The Guardian: "I'm always looking over my shoulder. I'm never going to let my guard down," adding that even hearing the word 'Iraq' can trigger immediate fear.
Macleod concluded: "This case shows the long-term psychological damage caused by abuse, fear, and control. The trauma did not end with Banaz's death and continues to affect those left behind, especially her sister who survived and spoke out."
Two decades after this horrific crime, Banaz Mahmod's case continues to highlight the urgent need for better understanding of 'honour' based violence, improved police responses, and stronger legal protections for those at risk.
